Oxfordshire County Council has initiated preliminary market engagement with potential waste management and recycling service providers for the long-term treatment of food and green waste in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom.

 

The Council is undertaking preliminary market engagement to identify suitable solutions for managing these waste streams after its existing contractual arrangements expire in November 2029. The council currently uses a combination of anaerobic digestion (AD), windrow composting and in-vessel composting facilities to process organic waste. The council manages approximately 25,000–30,000 tonnes of food waste and 45,000–60,000 tonnes of green and garden waste annually, representing a combined volume of around 70,000–90,000 tonnes per year. The proposed initiative aims to secure sufficient long-term waste treatment capacity while improving operational efficiency, reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable resource recovery. The project is also intended to deliver value for money, strengthen the resilience of waste management services and support circular economy objectives through the effective recycling and recovery of organic materials.

As part of the market engagement process, Oxfordshire County Council is exploring various delivery and investment models, including long-term waste treatment contracts, regional or national treatment solutions, joint ventures, facility ownership arrangements, reserved processing capacity and the development of new infrastructure. Flexible contract arrangements and the potential division of services into separate lots are also being considered to encourage participation from a range of service providers. These options will help the council assess market capabilities and determine the most appropriate approach for its future waste treatment requirements.

The planned contract period is from 30 November 2029 to 29 November 2039, covering a proposed duration of ten years. The notice, published on 6 October 2026, sets a response deadline of 12 November 2026. However, this opportunity is currently at the preliminary market engagement stage and does not constitute a formal invitation to tender or a confirmed contract award. The council will use the information gathered from prospective suppliers to inform its future procurement strategy and service requirements.